Barcelona

After a long two days of travel and then a good night's rest in our very pleasant hotel we started out on our first full day in Barcelona.  We grabbed a “Hop on Hop off” bus and started off.  Our first stop was the amazing Sagrada Família cathedral.  They have been working on it for over 100 years and it’s getting very close to completion.  We were here 13 years ago and it was interesting to see how much progress had been made since then.

You can tell the difference between the older parts of the cathedral and the newer parts, because the newer looks like cleaner stone.  When we were here before we weren't  able to go in, and again this time we weren't able to either.  You have to make a reservation well in advance...so next time we are here, we will plan for that.

The building is really amazing, and so complex.  I had to take a few closer pictures of some of the fantastic details that are everywhere you look.

This is a picture taken inside the small park across the street from the Sagrada Família 

Another building by Gaudi, the same person who designed Sagrada Família.  This is actually an apartment building that is still used to this day.

At another stop we explored a quieter part of the city, with quaint shops and narrow streets.

We discovered another beautiful old church in this neighborhood.  Not as spectacular outside as  Sagrada Família but beautiful inside.

We also drove by the site of the 1992  Barcelona Summer Olympics and saw some of the buildings that were used including this communication tower that was used to transmit television coverage of the Olympics.

After a very hot walk back to our hotel we finished up the day at a wonderful little restaurant near our hotel and had Paella and the most wonderful Sangria I've ever had.

The next day we took off from Barcelona and began our Joe Bonamassa Mediterranean Blues Cruise.

Before every Blues Cruise, they have a "Sail Away" party on deck, and everyone gives a tequila toast...and then the music begins.

Next Stop Monte Carlo